A 4-part live masterclass for artists who want to understand how their work can enter the home décor and commercial art market.
Dates: November 7–8 & November 14–15, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM ET
Format: Live on Zoom, interactive online masterclass
Led by industry consultant Maria Hoo, this intensive program takes artists behind the scenes of the licensing world, from how companies select artwork and identify trends to how licensing agreements work, how artists get paid, and how to build a portfolio that is ready for professional opportunities.
Across four live sessions, you’ll learn how to:
Understand the home décor and commercial art industry, including what companies look for when selecting artwork
Recognize market trends, color direction, and commercial opportunities without losing your individual artistic voice
Understand art licensing, royalties, publishers, manufacturers, and licensing agreements
Build and present a professional licensing portfolio
Research and approach companies, licensing professionals, and industry events strategically
Avoid common mistakes and learn how to follow up and build lasting professional relationships
The program includes live Q&A throughout, plus the opportunity to submit artwork for educational portfolio consideration. Three portfolio finalists will be selected to receive a private 40-minute educational portfolio advisory session with Maria, moderated by Ivy and Stella. As well as exclusive features on Imur Gallery’s social media.
Tuition
$599 Early Bird
September 26–October 2, 2026
$699 Regular Registration
Portfolio Submission
Once registered, participants will receive a confirmation email with a ShowSubmit link to submit their portfolio for Maria’s review.
A nominal portfolio submission fee will apply to cover administrative costs.
The official Masterclass Zoom link will be emailed to registered participants approximately one week before the first session.
Live Participation Format
This Masterclass is intentionally designed as a live, interactive learning experience. Sessions will not be recorded, and presentation slides or PDF materials will not be distributed before or after class.
Participants are encouraged to attend live, take notes, ask questions, and actively engage in the discussion.
This is a rare opportunity to receive focused feedback and visibility in an intimate, educational setting. Finalist selection is for educational and promotional purposes only and does not imply representation, commercial placement, manufacturer introduction, or the offer of a licensing contract.
Co-Hosted by Art Studio Allestra x Imur Gallery
Live on Zoom over two consecutive weekends:
November 7–8 & November 14–15, 2026
10:00 AM–12:00 PM ET
Four live 2-hour Zoom sessions | 8 total hours of instruction
Led by global home décor and commercial art expert Maria Hoo, this four-part live Masterclass is designed for artists who want to understand how the licensing and home décor industries actually work, and how to position themselves more professionally within that world.
Across four interactive sessions, Maria will share decades of industry experience spanning commercial art, publishing, artist development, trend forecasting, licensing, and product development.
What Participants Will Gain
Rare access to 28+ years of insider industry knowledge
Learn directly from Maria Hoo’s decades of experience across commercial art, publishing, licensing, product development, trend forecasting, and artist development.See the home décor industry from the inside
Understand how artwork is evaluated for wall art, furniture, accessories, and commercial use, and what industry professionals are actually looking for when they review an artist’s work.Learn how trends are identified before they reach the market
Discover how Maria reads color, style direction, consumer behavior, retail movement, and emerging visual patterns to anticipate what buyers may want next.Understand how artists actually earn through licensing
Gain a clearer understanding of royalties, usage rights, licensing agreements, and how artists, fine art publishers, and commercial partners work together behind the scenes.Learn how to position yourself like an industry-ready artist
Strengthen your portfolio presentation, research the right companies, approach professionals with confidence, avoid common mistakes, and follow up in a way that builds credibility and long-term opportunity.Develop a more strategic view of your own work
Learn how to look at your portfolio through a commercial lens without losing your artistic voice, and begin identifying where your work may fit within the broader home décor and licensing market.
Exclusive Finalist Experience
As an added highlight of the Masterclass, Maria will select three standout portfolio finalists whose work demonstrates especially strong readiness for this level of educational review.
Each finalist will receive a private 40-minute educational portfolio advisory session with Maria, scheduled separately and moderated by Ivy and Stella. The three finalists will also receive an exclusive artist feature and promotional spotlight across IMUR Gallery’s social media channels.
This is a rare opportunity to receive focused feedback and visibility in an intimate, educational setting. Finalist selection is for educational and promotional purposes only and does not imply representation, commercial placement, manufacturer introduction, or the offer of a licensing contract.
The Business Of Art & Home Décor:
Art Licensing & Portfolio Positioning Masterclass
Featured Speaker
Maria Hoo is a veteran commercial art executive, creative strategist, and trend forecasting advisor with over 28 years of experience in the global wall art and home décor industry. She has served as Vice President of Creative within one of the industry’s major international wall art publishing companies, where she played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s global market presence while cultivating long-standing relationships with manufacturers, retailers, and home décor buyers. Maria has also served as Creative Director of one of North America’s multiple award winning home decor and frame manufacturers.
Throughout her career, Maria has curated the development of best selling commercial artworks and framed art products, contributing to millions of dollars in wall art sales. Her expertise spans branding, commercial art direction, trend forecasting, artist development, licensing strategy, and product positioning across the mass market, furniture, and mid-to-high-end home décor sectors. She has also been recognized by the prestigious ART Awards with nominations for Product Designer of the Year and Best Wall Art Collection for her creative leadership and influence within the home décor industry.
Global manufacturers and commercial art partners seeking emerging artistic trends, commercially viable artwork, and curated collections for the home décor market, are influenced by Maria’s creativity and innovation. Her rare ability to bridge art with commercial strategy including combining aesthetics, trend intelligence, branding, consumer psychology, and market positioning; has helped shape trend-forward collections and launch the careers of numerous artists whose work has successfully sold within the global licensing and home décor industry under her creative direction.
Endorsement
“As a manufacturer and distributor in the high-end art reproduction marketplace, I am constantly searching for talented artists to represent. However, promising partnerships often stall because artists fear losing their autonomy and control over their work.
Maria Hoo’s masterclass is the exact solution our industry needs. Because Maria has deep experience on both sides of the creative equation, she uniquely understands how to bridge this gap.
This course shows artists how to safely leverage their talent for a lifetime of reward, while giving them the confidence to collaborate with businesses like mine. For any artist looking to turn their creativity into a thriving, secure business, Maria's masterclass is a game-changer.”
“Maria Hoo is a master at identifying and curating unique wall art and decor created by independent, undiscovered artists and studios. She understands the strategies and teaches hidden talent how to create commercially viable home fashion while balancing visual storytelling with market trends. I know first-hand how her kind and respectful way encourages artists to think about a broader, sustainable career.”
“I have had the pleasure of knowing Maria for many years. She was among the first to recognize the potential in my photographic work and encourage me to explore opportunities in the commercial art market.
Throughout our longtime creative association, I have been continually impressed by her expertise in trend forecasting, artist development, and her expertise in creating successful collections for the home décor industry. Maria has a remarkable ability to recognize artistic talent and connect that talent with real market opportunities.
The Business of Art & Home Décor Masterclass is exactly the kind of practical, industry-focused education artists need to better understand and succeed in the commercial art, licensing, publishing, and home décor marketplace. I wholeheartedly endorse both Maria and this outstanding program.”
“I have had the pleasure of working with Maria for over 10 years, and in recent years, even more closely in my role as Director of Product Development at Streamline Art. Over that time, I have consistently valued her expertise, insight, and deep understanding of both the creative and commercial sides of the wall art and home décor industry.
Her knowledge also helps guide key product decisions, including the appropriate finishes, materials, and formats for the artwork we bring to market. I greatly value her perspective and her ability to connect runway and home décor trends back to art, along with her understanding of what is happening in the world and how it influences what people want to bring into their homes.
That kind of knowledge is incredibly important when building art collections that are not only visually compelling, but also relevant, marketable, and meaningful to today’s customer. In the wall art and home décor space, success is not only about creating and selecting beautiful art it is about understanding how story, trend, color, mood, and consumer behavior all work together to shape a collection that resonates in the marketplace.
Maria brings a rare combination of creative instinct, trend awareness, and commercial strategy, and I believe artists would gain valuable insight from learning how to apply those principles to their own work and portfolios. Above all, Maria genuinely cares about the success of her clients and is committed to helping them understand the industry in a way that supports long-term growth and success.”
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